03 Ranger Drum Brakes Wearing Unevenly? Pic

[trioxin1308]

Hi all,

Recent having annoying problems with parking brake freezing in Michigan - while tearing it apart to loosen the cable I noticed that my shoes wore very unevenly, the front side was half as thick as the rear, is this normal? The pic is of the drivers side wheel and it is the original shoes with nearly 80,000 miles on them. You can see the thickness difference most distinctly at the bottom of the pads.

Also, how do our brakes automatically adjust? Is it through driving in reverse or by actuating the parking brake (which I had to disconnect from the drivers side until I get a cable that wont freeze!)?

Thanks!
Trioxin

 

[logicgear]

that sounds like your parking brake on that side was staying locked. the self adjuster works with driving in reverse and stepping on the brake.

 

[modelageek]

the self adjuster was prob not working prop. I usually adjust them myself from the slot in the back. you should have min 1/16 of an inch of material. I had the same prob with the drivers side cable freezing. the rubber wore thru and exposed the cable. I mickey moused it with heater hose until the spring.

 

[The purple one]

Drum brakes always wear differant. When you hit the brakes the shoe is pulled in to the drum on one side making it wear faster.

 

[Jason]

Who was monkeying with the brakes. The hold down cup is new.

 

[basketranger]

the one thing all have not mentioned one shoe is for stopping the other on the same wheel is parking brake the short shoe.

 

[trioxin1308]

I replaced the hold down cup this summer, the old one rusted through and let the shoe move around. Fortunately the groove in the drum was deep enough that it held it in place. I noticed the thickness disparity then but never remembered to ask anyone about it. So does the adjuster adjust 1 notch per backup brake? How does it know when it doesnt need to advance anymore?

Really appreciate all the comments!
T.